The Most Colorful Boutique Hotels

Recently, it feels like more and more hotels are falling victim to all-beige minimalism. Don’t get me wrong, Scandinavian design where "less is more" can be done beautifully. But too many places miss the mark, stripping away the character and whimsy that a little color can bring to a curated space.

Designing with color takes both creativity and restraint. Go too far and a space becomes overwhelming; dial it back too much and you're left with sterile beiges. If you love unique stays with bold colors, patterns, and plenty of character, this list is for you. Here are 10 of the most vibrant boutique hotels around the world.

Channeling the sharp wit and dramatic style of Oscar Wilde, The Mayfair Townhouse pairs rich velvet with dark wood and playful art pieces. The residences evoke a dapper British sensibility, and are dressed with velvet headboards with pops of sage green and mustard yellow all throughout the property. 

New Orleans is famous for its history, music, and distinct style, and its hotel scene is no exception. The Pontchartrain Hotel is a southern gothic romance haven. The property doesn’t shy away from the use of bold wallpapers and perfectly incorporates a palette of light greens, pinks, and blues, with touches of floral upholstery to make each space feel tailored rather than chaotic.

Austin defines colorful, and so does the Austin Motel. The star of the show is their signature fire-engine red that is consistent from the sign out front to the suites' wallpapers. Accompanied by yellows and blues, retro furniture, and pop-art graphics, the motel exudes personality in every corner. It achieves every boutique hotelier’s ultimate goal: a place you couldn’t replicate if you tried.

Many hotels wouldn't dare put tiger-stripe velvet next to classic French toile wallpaper, but the Lafayette pulls it off remarkably, and feels like a 1940s Wes Anderson film set. The real showstopper here isn't even the rooms, it's drinking under a ceiling mural at the atrium glass bar while staring out at a sea of scalloped, circus-red pool umbrellas.

One of the most recognizable hotels in California is undeniably The Georgian, and for good reason. Its turquoise exterior can be spotted from a mile away, but their commitment to color doesn't end at the facade. Inside, the space is decked out in velvet drapery and custom tilework, leaving no detail unturned. Warm peach and soft blue hues line the guest rooms, while out on the sand, their signature candy-striped umbrellas dot the beach.

Rather than defaulting to plain beachy neutrals, Quintessence relies on a private collection of Haitian art to supply its color. It’s a simple setup, but the heavy use of original art keeps the property from looking like every other resort on the island.

I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the world you can sleep in a clamshell bed, except at Coronado’s Baby Grand Hotel, and that is just scratching the surface of the design risks taken. The hotel completely skipped safe coastal palettes, and paired lavender trim with leopard-print armchairs, tropical wallpapers, and tiled bathrooms.

Most new city hotels stick to safety when it comes to interiors, but Boston’s The Atlas feels special with orange highlights to break up its moss green and wood interior. The standout detail is the elevator bank featuring two vibrant orange doors that immediately catch your eye the second you walk in.

California has proven itself to house a colorful cluster of hotels. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe comes from a Spanish Colonial background expressed through cobalt tiles and shades of green. And the lush backdrop surrounding the property only enhances its beauty more, which makes letting nature guide the design an easy feat.

Miami’s hotel scene can feel hard to differentiate within the plethora of green and pink, but The Betsy succeeds at breaking this mold. Rather than an overbearing amount of pastels, their use of navy, coral red, and blue mirrors the gallery art lining the walls, nodding to the nearby ocean without trying too hard to steal the show.